Typhoon Usagi

There was never a certainty that Typhoon Usagi was going to make a direct hit on Hong Kong, but the waves from so powerful a storm were guaranteed to create spectacular waterfront displays. That was to be expected after weather forecasters had billed it as the biggest tempest in the world this year. The Hong Kong Observatory had for days been warning that wind strengths and seasonal high tides would cause mountainous swells, and the photographs and videos showing people dwarfed on the shoreline have not disappointed. What was shocking, though, was the numbers of parents who took their children from the safety of homes and put them in potentially dangerous situations to experience nature's fury at first hand.

Airlines are beginning to clear a backlog of stranded passengers at the Chek Lap Kok airport after the Observatory cancelled typhoon signals on Monday morning.

The billboard at the airport showed that flights would be leaving on time soon after the Observatory lowered the No 8 typhoon signal to a No 3 signal at 9.20am, and then cancelled all typhoon signals at 10.25am.

Residents in flood-prone areas yesterday blasted the government, accusing it of poor preparations and red tape as Usagi edged towards the city. However, there were no reports of flooding in Hong Kong by 9pm last night. A group of volunteers in Tai O on Lantau also accused officials of failing to help evacuate single elderly residents, who were worried they would not have time to move out of the village's stilt houses into shelters.

Frustrated air travellers spent the night at Chek Lap Kok airport last night after flights were cancelled or delayed. Some angry passengers blamed airlines for keeping them in the dark about flight schedules after braving winds and heavy rain to reach the airport, only to learn of cancellations or delays.

The Jockey Club will seek government approval to fill the vacant October
30 midweek date, with its refusal to take a risk on Sha Tin today in the
face of Typhoon Usagi set to cost the club more than HK$1 billion in turnover.